"For the first time in over a decade, Harper Voyager are opening the doors to unsolicited submissions in order to seek new authors with fresh voices, strong storytelling abilities, original ideas and compelling storylines. So, if you believe your manuscript has these qualities, then we want to read it!

We're seeking all kinds of adult and young adult speculative fiction for digital publication, but particularly epic fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, horror, dystopia and supernatural."

Full info: http://harpervoyagerbooks.com/harper-voyager-guidelines-for-digital-submission/

LP

Lois Peterson - author, storyteller, writing instructor
www.loispeterson.blog.com
Coming Oct 1 - DISCONNECT - Daria's addiction to technology endangers a life.
Foreign rights recently sold to Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Hungary

It appears 3 times on the board - messages 3564, 3565 and 3567 - including one
which is a recall of a message for the same subject.
LP


--- In surreywriters@yahoogroups.com, "Sylvia Taylor" <words@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Moderator,
>
> I posted a blurb about my book launch twice but it hasn't appeared on the
> Surreywriters postings.
>
> Wondering if I submitted incorrectly or is the content inappropriate for the
> site?
>
> I've seen promo postings many times, so not sure what happened with my
> blurb.
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance for clarifying,
>
> ~Sylvia~
>
>
>
> Sylvia Taylor Communications
>
> Writer, Editor, Educator, Consultant
>
> Business Communications Specialist
>
> Author: The Fisher Queen
>
> 604-807-5358 www.sylviataylor.ca <http://www.sylviataylor.ca/>
>

Ed - S's message shows up on the list four times! Which of yours went missing? I
can look for it on the list and/or you can email it to me directly and I can
post it.
L

--- In surreywriters@yahoogroups.com, Ed Griffin <ed@...> wrote:
>
> Syliva mentions that her message was lost. Same here.
> Ed Griffin
> --
> Ed Griffin
> **
>
> **
>
> **
>

Ed - were you refering to message 3562 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/surreywriters/message/3562 re FVWS courses?
L

--- In surreywriters@yahoogroups.com, Ed Griffin <ed@...> wrote:
>
> Syliva mentions that her message was lost. Same here.
> Ed Griffin
> --
> Ed Griffin
> **
>
> **
>
> **
>

There are two ways to post messages:

1. Directly through the listserv: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/surreywriters/ after you have logged into Yahoo

or

2. By emailing from your registered email account to surreywriters@yahoogroups.com

To read messages

a) you need to make sure your settings at the listserve page are set up for Email - Individual messsages or Daily digest - in which case you will get them delivered to your Inbox.

or

b) by logging into the listserv itself and clicking on messages.

Do note also that Surrey libraries has a SurreyWrites Facebook page where you can post local writing-related info.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=375500469165663&set=a.103786353003744.2494.100001171402558&type=1&comment_id=970509#!/SurreyWrites as a visitor.

If you would like me to post notices of general interest to the local writing community, you can email me at loispeterson@... (SurreyWrites in the subject line, PLEASE), and I will post it on the main page, if appropriate.

L

---

Lois Peterson - author, storyteller, writing instructor
www.loispeterson.blog

Free for three days: Once a Priest

It’s:

About a man finding himself, not a book about religion.

About carrying things of value from the church, not a book about being a priest.

About seeking the transcendent, the spiritual, not a book about what people said in confession.

Get this book free starting on Thursday, September 20, and on Friday and Saturday, September 21 & 22

Golden Ears Writers - October Lobby Night at the Maple Ridge Arts and Culture Theatre (The ACT)
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 @ 7pm
There is no charge for admission

Historical Research for Writers: Facts and Photos

In honour of Library Month,
the Port Moody Library offers the panel discussion
Get Published
Sat. Oct. 20, 2-4 p.m.

With Lois Peterson (children's fiction); David Russell (adult fiction-mysteries); Gaetan Royer (nonfiction);

Sue McIntyre (poetry); and Joyce Gram (professional editor).

Moderator: Julie H. Ferguson (nonfiction and articles).

Register by calling 604.469.4577.

http://library.portmoody.ca/index.aspx?page=24

Surrey Mayor, Dianne Watts, and Council have proclaimed Oct 14-21, 2012 Surrey
International Writers' Conference Week to acknowledge the 20th conference
anniversary.

If you are attending SiWC, we look forward to seeing you at Master Classes on
Thursday, and (or) for the full conference Friday through Sunday at the Sheraton
Vancouver Guildford.

The moderator of this group, Lois Peterson, has been a popular presenter, and a
staunch supporter of SiWC since it began.  Yay, Lois! ~ and many thanks.

You can interact with conference attendees through Twitter @SiWCTweets , and via
the hashtag #SiWC2012, if you wish. Attending, or not, we'd love to have you
join the conversation.

Our website is www.SiWC.ca , and,of course, we are on FB under the conference
name.

See you in Surrey ! And, remember...the world is waiting for your story.

~ Ursula Maxwell-Lewis | Writer | Photographer
Founding SiWC Director | Treasurer
Twitter:   @YouTravel FB: Travel, Write, Click

Publicity Release

October 2012

ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOPS CHARITABLE TRUST

ANNOUNCES WINTER 2013 ONLINE CLASSES

For seventeen years, Odyssey has pursued its mission to help developing writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror improve their work by holding its annual six-week, in-person workshop in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Three years ago, Odyssey expanded its mission, taking the teaching techniques that are so effective at the workshop and adapting them to create online classes. Director Jeanne Cavelos explains, "Technology allows us to hold live online class meetings, so students can ask questions and participate in the class. Each course is designed to provide intensive focus on a particular aspect of fiction writing, and challenging homework assignments help students to improve their skills. Feedback from the instructor and from classmates allows students to gauge their progress. Each student also has an individual meeting with instructor." Courses provide a supportive yet challenging, energizing atmosphere, with class size limited to fourteen students. While courses are designed for adult writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, interested writers of other genres are welcome to apply.

Last winter, Odyssey had a huge response to the three online courses offered. Writers from all over the world applied. This year, Odyssey is offering three different online courses covering some of the most critical issues for developing writers:

Three-Act Structure in Fantastic Fiction

Course Meets: January 2 - 30, 2013

Instructor: Jeanne Cavelos

Application Deadline: December 7, 2012

When we first offered this course in 2011, we received more interest than in any course taught before or since. So we're offering it again, to provide more writers the chance to learn the exciting possibilities inherent in this plot structure. One of the greatest weaknesses of developing writers is plot. One of the best tools for strengthening plot is the act. Plotting in acts creates a more suspenseful, unpredictable, and emotionally satisfying experience for the reader. This course will start by defining key units of structure--the scene, chapter, and act--and explore why we need acts. We'll discuss the effect of acts, the importance of acts, how acts work in short fiction and novels, and how acts are used in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. How does one identify an act? When are three acts appropriate? Why are three acts so popular and powerful? We'll learn how to plot in three acts. We'll explore what makes a strong three-act plot and what makes a weak three-act plot. We'll look at powerful methods and weak methods of ending an act. We'll explore how to create a causal chain that generates escalations and a strong climax, how subplots work within three-act structure, the connection between structure and character transformation, and the unifying role of theme.

Getting the Big Picture: The Key to Revising Your Novel

Course Meets: January 7 - February 4, 2013

Instructor: Barbara Ashford

Application Deadline: December 11, 2012

Barbara Ashford believes the most important skill a novelist needs is to be able to see the "big picture" of the novel, to understand where that big picture is lacking or weak, and to make the major changes necessary to create a coherent, complete, powerful, and unified novel. Barbara believes this skill made all the difference in her writing, transforming it from promising but unsalable to compelling and published. Writers often approach revisions as an opportunity to polish their manuscripts rather than to take a hard look at the story itself. If your plot meanders and your protagonist's goals are unclear, polishing your prose won't help. This course examines the "big picture" elements at the foundation of every novel: premise, promise, theme, world, character, and plot. Whether you've already completed your first draft, are still working on it, or are struggling with revisions, analyzing and strengthening those elements can lift your novel out of the slush pile and onto an agent's desk. Award-nominated author Barbara Ashford will examine each of these big picture elements and the ways that linking them can create a unified, compelling, powerful story. Through lecture, discussion, and writing exercises, students will analyze their premise, the promise that the novel is making to readers, the themes that arise from the novel, the world they have created, their protagonists' backstory, motivations, and goals, and the plot events they have chosen to lead the reader from the story's promise to its climax.

Bodies and Heartbeats: Crafting Character from the Inside Out

Course Meets: January 23 - February 20, 2013

Instructor: Elaine Isaak

Application Deadline: December 27, 2012

"If you will try being fictional for a while, you will find that fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and heartbeats."
--Richard Bach

In her critiques as a guest lecturer at the Odyssey Writing Workshop and as a critiquer for the Odyssey Critique Service, Elaine Isaak has become legendary for identifying weaknesses in character and suggesting brilliant yet simple ways to strengthen characters. This course will help you to develop a clearer sense of what makes a powerful character and will teach you the techniques you need to develop strong characters. The first duty of the fiction writer is to make the reader care about people that don't exist. In this course, we'll talk about how to create the core of a sympathetic character and bring that character to life through words so that the reader invests in the dreams and challenges of your imagined people. Students will study and discuss examples, perform exercises to practice creating sympathetic and believable characters, and write short-shorts that put these new skills into practice. Students will also provide critiques of their classmates' work.

More information about our online classes can be found here: http://www.sff.net/odyssey/online.html or by emailing jcavelos@....

If you've visited the Odyssey site recently, you may need to click REFRESH on your browser to see the new content.

PLEASE NOTE: Those application deadlines are coming up soon! If you would like to apply for more than one course, you must apply separately for each one.

Odyssey's Online Classes pack valuable content into each session, allow for significant interaction with the instructor, and provide assignments that challenge students. The classes provide the tools students need to improve their writing, along with feedback on their work that reveals whether they are successfully using those tools. Cavelos says, "If you're ready to hear about the weaknesses in your writing and ready to work to overcome them, you'd be welcome to apply to our online classes."

In addition, the Odyssey Web site, www.odysseyworkshop.org, offers many resources for writers, including free podcasts, writing and publishing tips, a writing blog, a critique service, and information about the six-week in-person workshop.

The journey to take your writing to the next level starts now!

Here's one currently posted at The Guardian newspaper.
Excerpted from an upcoming book.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/series/how-to-write-a-book-in-30-days

LP

---

Lois Peterson, www.loispeterson.blog.com

While there are many useful tools out there to help writers develop their mansucripts, create character profiles, document plot arcs, keep track of research and marketing resources,  etc., Miscrosoft Word offers plenty of features to help you be more productive and organized.

In February 2013 I will be presenting a Saturday morning 90-minute workshop on WORD for Writers - Advanced Skills at the Semiahmoo Branch of Surrey Libraries, 1815-152 Street.

Date and cost tba.

The workshop, held in the Electronic classroom at the library and limited to 11 participants will include a review of features such as

• Document maps
• Outlining
• Internal and external hyperlinks
• Track changes ...  among other topics.

Participants must have a good grasp of basic WORD functions.

While it is too early to take registrations, and the final details (date and cost) have yet to be determined, PLEASE CONTACT ME OFFLIST at loispeterson@... if you would like your name to be included on the interest list.

This way you will have the chance of a priority registration, and I will keep you personally informed of further details as they emerge.

Thanks.

LP

Lois Peterson - author, storyteller, writing instructor
www.loispeterson.blog.com

----- Original Message -----

From: Lois Peterson

To: surreywriters@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 3:57 PM

Subject: [surreywriters] WORD for Writers - advanced skills workshop

 

While there are many useful tools out there to help writers develop their mansucripts, create character profiles, document plot arcs, keep track of research and marketing resources,  etc., Miscrosoft Word offers plenty of features to help you be more productive and organized.

In February 2013 I will be presenting a Saturday morning 90-minute workshop on WORD for Writers - Advanced Skills at the Semiahmoo Branch of Surrey Libraries, 1815-152 Street.

Date and cost tba.

The workshop, held in the Electronic classroom at the library and limited to 11 participants will include a review of features such as

• Document maps
• Outlining
• Internal and external hyperlinks
• Track changes ...  among other topics.

Participants must have a good grasp of basic WORD functions.

While it is too early to take registrations, and the final details (date and cost) have yet to be determined, PLEASE CONTACT ME OFFLIST at loispeterson@... if you would like your name to be included on the interest list.

This way you will have the chance of a priority registration, and I will keep you personally informed of further details as they emerge.

Thanks.

LP

Lois Peterson - author, storyteller, writing instructor
www.loispeterson.blog.com

 

 

 

The Federation of BC Writers has now posted an updated list here. http://bcwriters.ca/v2/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/WritersGroupsNov23_2012.pdf

LP

If you've a mind, to, please Reply to this post with a note of:

1. The best writing tip you've learned in the past year and/or
2. The best writing craft book you've read this year and/or
3. The best new online writers' resource you've discovered this year and/or
4. The highlight of your year - what you've finished, shared, published... and/or
5. Your writing-related goal for 2012.

A name will be drawn at random from everyone who responds for a free critique of a piece of prose, 3,500 words max.

LP

---
Lois Peterson
www.loispeterson.blog.com

While there are a number of programs out there for developing your projects and manuscripts, Microsoft WORD has many tools for developing outlines, editing, and maintaining research resources and information.

This free workshop will be offered at the Semiahmoo branch of Surrey Libraries at 1815 - 152 Street.

10 - 11:30 am. on Saturday, Feb 23.

Each participant will work on one of the library's computers - this workshop is limited to 12 participants.

To register: CALL 604-592-6908.

If you dropped me a note to have your name included on the interest list, you do need to call to register to confirm a space.

LP

This is an advanced workshop for those with some experience using WORD.

I should have included the info that this workshop is FREE.


--- In surreywriters@yahoogroups.com, "Lois Peterson" <loispeterson@...> wrote:
>
>
> While there are a number of programs out there for developing your
> projects and manuscripts, Microsoft WORD has many tools for developing
> outlines, editing, and maintaining research resources and information.
>
> This free workshop will be offered at the Semiahmoo branch of Surrey
> Libraries at 1815 - 152 Street.
>
> 10 - 11:30 am. on Saturday, Feb 23.
>
> Each participant will work on one of the library's computers - this
> workshop is limited to 12 participants.
>
> To register: CALL 604-592-6908.
>
> If you dropped me a note to have your name included on the interest
> list, you do need to call to register to confirm a space.
>
> LP
>
> This is an advanced workshop for those with some experience using WORD.
>